Fat Grafting

“Restoring volume with your own extra fat.”

Common name – Fat Grafting. Technical name/also known as – Fat Grafting.

Benefits of Fat Grafting

This surgery is for women or men with loss of volume of the face. Folds around the mouth may become more pronounced and the cheek can look flattened. Fat grafting can help restore some of the lost volume with the body’s own tissue. It is often done in conjunction with a facelift, but can be a stand alone procedure. While this description describes fat grafting for facial rejuvenation, fat can be transplanted to other areas of the body as a corrective procedure (such as for contour irregularities after breast procedures or liposuction).

How it is done: How fat is grafted

Fat grafting involves the harvest or removal of fat from one area (often the abdomen or lower extremities) by liposuction and transfer to another by injection. After the fat is harvested through a small, usually inconspicuous incision, it is prepared for injection by centrifugation. This process removes oils and serum and allows just the intact fat to be transferred. The fat is then placed into the areas of volume loss through tiny entrance sites. Some overcorrection is performed in anticipation of reabsorption of the fat. It is expected that only 30% of the fat will “take” and become vascularized and act like the other fat naturally found in the face.

Upside

As a filling material, there is often a plentiful supply of fat. What is transplanted and vascularized after absorption is expected to remain. While it does not prevent future volume loss, it may make the need for future “boxed” filler use less. There is also little concern about reacting to this filling material since it is your own.

Downside

The amount of fat which takes after grafting is approximately 30%, so additional filling to maintain correction with “boxed” fillers may be needed.

Who pays for this

This is a cosmetic procedure, paid for by the patient.

What to expect

Length of operation

1-2 hours as a stand alone procedure.

Anesthesia used

General anesthesia, you will be asleep and monitored the entire time.

In or out patient

Outpatient, unless combined with a surgery requiring an overnight stay.

Time until final appearance

3 to 4 months, depending on how swelling resolves.

Length of results

Long lasting, but varies from patient to patient.

Side effects

Temporary swelling, bruising, and some pain commonly occur. There is usually more discomfort at the site of harvest than at the site of placement. Overfilling may be noticed initially which dissipates with time. Sensation of the face may be different initially.

Risks of procedure

All surgery carries risk. I recommend patients carefully weigh the benefits of having surgery against the potential risks which may arise. Risks include pain, bleeding, infection, damage to nearby structures, need for other procedures, recurrence, dissatisfaction with appearance, asymmetry, sensory changes including permanent loss of sensation, wound healing delays requiring wound care, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolus. A complete list of risks will be discussed with you before surgery.

If you smoke, it is imperative that you quit six weeks both before and after surgery. To better understand why, please click here: Smoking and Plastic Surgery

“I love when patients tell me their friends and coworkers ask if they’ve gone on vacation or lost weight—their results are seen as a natural improvement. “

– Dr. Danielle DeLuca-Pytell

Your Next Step

Call or email us to schedule an appointment and find out if you are a suitable candidate for this procedure.

Before and After Gallery

Side effects

Temporary swelling, bruising, and some pain commonly occur. There is usually more discomfort at the site of harvest than at the site of placement. Overfilling may be noticed initially which dissipates with time. Sensation of the face may be different initially.

Risks of procedure

All surgery carries risk. I recommend patients carefully weigh the benefits of having surgery against the potential risks which may arise. Pain, bleeding, infection, damage to nearby structures, need for other procedures, recurrence, dissatisfaction with appearance, asymmetry, sensory changes including permanent loss of sensation, wound healing delays requiring wound care, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolus. A complete list of risks will be discussed with you before surgery.

If you smoke, it is imperative that you quit six weeks both before and after surgery. To better understand why, please click here: Smoking and Plastic Surgery

Recovery time

If healing proceeds as expected:

Rest at home (princess treatment) 2 weeks (no housework or exercise). Outsource housework a while you rest. Walk around the house, but do not work out. Rest with your head up and sleep with your neck extended (to avoid creasing) for the first two weeks.

Return to gentle exercise and household chores at two weeks and gradually increase activity. May resume work if it is sedentary.

Returning to Work

This depends on the type of work that you do. Many women can return to sedentary work two weeks after surgery, though not everyone is ready to return to work by then. Surgery affects different people differently.